Container handling equipment



1954 J. K. BRUCE ETAL CONTAINER HANDLING EQUIPMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 3, 1950 :zik r i 5.11. v 3 AH! N 1 JOHN If. BAUCE THO/MAJ H. D4V/S 7 A Tram/5r J. K. BRUCE ET AL CONTAINER HANDLING EQUIPMENT Aug. 10, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1950 g- 10, 1954 r .1. K. BRUCE ET AL 2,685,975 I CONTAINER HANDLING EQUIPMENT I Filed April 3, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 mmsw'raw; JOhW/fl 59am 77100143 x 0,4 m

0, 1954 J, K. BRUCE ETAL CONTAINER HANDLING EQUIPMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 3, 1950 //v vav Tops:

JOHN hi 54 1/05 7770414817. 0440.)

Patented Aug. 10, 1954 CONTAINER HANDLING EQUIPMENT John K. Bruce, Pasadena, and Thomas H. Davis,

Alhambra, Calif., assignors to Bruce Engineerin: Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of California Application April 3, 1950, Serial No. 153,724 I This invention relates to materials handling equipment and more particularly, to apparatus for removing containers from shipping cartons.

In many industries, as for example, breweries,

empty cans are received from the manufacturer in unsealed flap-covered cartons, generally containing about two dozen cans to the carton. It is, of course, necessary before these cans are filled, sealed, etc., to remove them from the cartons and deposit them on a conveyor line to the several operations. At present empty cans are removed from shippin cartons by hand, there being no apparatus available capable of opening the unsealed carton, extracting the cans therefrom, and placing the cans and empty carton on separate conveyors. When can consumption is large, the labor involved is appreciable. Moreover, the manual operation is inconsistent with the remainder of the filling, sealing, labelling and packaging stages, all of which are carried out in automatic machines. One Los Angeles brewery fills, seals, etc., approximately 120,000 cans per day, all automatically, but these cans are removed from the shipping carton by hand.

We have now developed apparatus capable of receivin such unsealed cartons, opening both the side and end flaps, extracting the exposed,

cans and depositing the cans on a conveyor, slide or other delivery means in a sequence of steps without damagin either the cans or the cartons. This latter feature is important since the same cartons are conventionally reused to ship the filled cans. The apparatu is capable of receiving the cartons in a continuous stream and performs the diiierent operations sequentially on a series of cartons. Thus, as the cans are removed from one carton, the end flaps of the next succeeding carton are being opened and the side flaps of a third carton are being opened.

Whereas the apparatus of the invention is hereinafter particularly described for use in removing empty cans from an unsealed carton, it is not so limited. It may be used to remove any metallic containers, Whether empty or full, from cartons which have not been sealed or whichhave been unsealed prior to introduction into the apparatus. The apparatus of the invention is capable of operating at substantially any throughput with rates of thirty cartons per minute, or even higher being entirely practical, In the case of beer cans, this rate represents 720 cans per minute. The above-mentioned brewery could replace manual labor with a single machine operating at the rate of eleven cartons per minute for less than eight hours.

21 Claims. (Cl. 214304) The apparatus of the invention comprises a conveyor for the container-filled cartons, means operable to fold the side flaps of the cartons outwardly therefrom, separate means for folding the end fiaps outwardly from the cartons and means for removing the cans from the cartons and depositing them outside the cartons, the several means being arranged to operate in sequence in the order named on each carton as it is carried by the conveyor.

In addition to providing improved means for opening the side flaps of a carton, the invention, as a particular feature, provides means for opening the end flaps of such a carton without altering the direction of travel or the orientation of the carton with respect to the conveyor. Presently existing means for opening cartons includes spaced pairs of plows arranged above cooperating conveyors, the first pair serving to fold the side flaps away from the top of the carton and the second pair engaging the end flaps after the direction of travel of the carton has been changed by passing from one conveyor to the adjoining conveyor arranged transversely with respect to the first conveyor. Alternatively the two pairs of plows are spaced from each other above a single conveyor and means are provided intermediate the pairs of plows to rotate the cartons through a arc to orient the ends of the carton parallel instead of transverse to the direction of travel.

In the present apparatus, entirely difierent means is employed to open the end flaps of the carton which does not require any rotation of the carton or any change in its direction of travel. Briefly, this means comprises spaced traveling fingers which are caused to move intermittently above the carton at a rate in. excess of the rate of travel of the carton. The fingers in traveling across the top of the carton are arranged to pivot on an axis transverse to their direction of travel in such a manner as to lift first one and then the other of the end fiaps away from the carton. The movement of the fingers is synchronized with the travel of the cartons on the conveyor by means hereinafter detailed so that the fiow of cartons is uninterrupted.

Another feature of the invention is the means for removing the cans from the boxes which comprises a large magnet, which may be either'a permanent magnet or an electromagnet, disposed above the path of the opened cartons. A conveyor belt is caused to travel across the lower face of the magnet. As an open carton passes into the field of the magnet, the cansare held against the magnet while the carton is allowed to drop onto 7 3 a lower conveyor. The cans travel across the face of the magnet on the conveyor belt. As the conveyor belt travels beyond the field of the magnet, the cans adhering thereto are fed onto a discharge conveyor which carries them out of the apparatus.

The invention will be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of apparatus in accordance with the'invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Y W

Fig. 2A is a section taken on the line 2A-2A-of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 5--5of Fig. 4 showing the end flap opening mechanism at; one point in its cycle; I

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6'-'-6 of Fig. 4 and showing the orientation of the timing mechanism at the stage in the cycle represented by Fig. 5;

Fig. '1 is a sectional elevation identical to Fig. 5' showing a different stage in the cycle of the end flap opening mechanism; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation corresponding to Fig. 6 and showing the timing mechanism position at the stage in the cycle represented by Fig; 7. 7

Referring to the drawing and particularly Figs. 1 and. 2', the apparatus includes a unitary supporting framework and housing I0, provided with a base IOA, side panels IIJB; I00, and a substantially enclosed motor housing IIID. The framework is adapted to rest on or be bolted to the flooror a raised platform and is internally braced so'as not to require external support. A conveyor I2 is mounted horizontally in the framework and includes a pair of chains I2A,- I'2B carried over sprockets I3, I4 mounted on shafts I-3A, MA respectively, journalled through sides IOB', IOC f the housing.

A single power source is employed to operate the entire mechanism including conveyor I2. A motor I is mounted in the motor housing IOD and is connected through aspeed reducer I6 on the shaft 20A and is connected by a chain 2I (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1) to a sprocket .I4B (Fig. 2) mounted on shaft I IAwhich also carries conveyor sprockets I4.

Cartons are delivered to the end of conveyor I2 by means of an auxiliary conveyor 26 traveling at a slower speed than conveyor I2.

Stationary detents 21, 21A are mounted to the frameworkon opposite sides of the conveyor I2 and adjacent the end of the conveyor. The detents 21, 21A project into the path of the cartons delivered from conveyor 26 preventing access to conveyor I2. i Y v The conveyor I2 which conveniently comprises a pair of parallel chains I2A, I2B, carries a numbr of spaced pusher bars 28, 28A, 28B, 28C

mounted across the chains I2A, I2B. When one 4 of the pusher bars engages under a carton held by detents 21, 21A, as for example, a carton 30 as shown in the drawing, it lifts the carton over the detent and slides under the carton to engage against the back lower edge of a preceding carton. A spring detent 32 spaced from the detent 21 retains each successive carton until the carton is engaged and forced past the spring detent by one of the pusher bars. Briefly, therefore, \the carton-feed operation is as follows:

Conveyor 26 carrying cartons to the apparatus urges them against the stationary detents 21, 21A where they remain until a pusher bar, say the bar 28, lifts the carton, say the carton 30, over the detents as shown in dotted lines of Fig. l. The pusher bar 28 which lifts the carton 30- over the detents, proceeds past the carton to engage a preceding carton in the manner to be described. Having been lifted over the detent,

carton 30 is urged onto conveyor I2 by the action of conveyor 26 and spaced rubber covered friction rolls IIA, IIB mounted on the sprocket shaft I3A. The rolls IIA, IIB are of somewhat larger diameter than the diameter of the chains I2A, I2B' traveling over the sprockets I3. The

carton thus carried onto conveyor I2 is stopped by the spring detent 32. The pusher bar' 28A following behind the pusher bar 28 lifts a succeeding carton (not shown) over the stationary detents 21, 21A and passesunder the succeeding carton to engage against the carton 30 retained in the conveyor by springdetent 32, forcing it past the spring detent and on down the conveyor.

.The first stage in the opening operation involvesopening the side flaps of the carton. These flaps being folded inwardly from the sides which lie in a plane parallel to the direction of travel of conveyor I2. In conventional apparatus for opening side flaps of cartons, plows have been used to engage under the inwardly folded flap, lifting it upwardly and outwardly away from the carton as the carton is caused to travel past the plow.

We have made an improvement on this presently existing apparatus which makes its operation considerably more positive. This improvement comprises means for exerting a constricting force momentarily on the sides Of the carton below the flaps so as to spring the flaps upwardly where they are more readily engaged by succeeding plows. Constriction of the carton sides furnishes a positive means of partially opening the flaps and has an important advantage in that the engaging tips of the plows can be spaced well above the carton so that there is no danger of the plows interfering with cartons traveling on the conveyor. This arrangement comprises a pair of rollers B l, 35A mounted to rotate on a vertical axis adjacent the sides of the conveyor I2 and some distance above the conveyor and normally spaced outwardly from the sides of any cartons traveling along the conveyor. The rollers 34, 34A are rotatably mounted on rocker arms 35, 35A, respectively, which are spring loaded with springs 36, 36A to urge them away 4| responsive to rotation of the shaft l3 to rotate the cylindrical cams 40, 40A.

Operation of the compression rollers 34, 34A responsive to rotation of cams driven from the conveyor sprocket shaft synchronizes movement of the rollers with the travel of conveyor l2.

The compression rollers 34, 34A are connected to be actuated by rotation of cams 40, 40A by means of a safety release mechanism shown in sectional elevation in Fig. 2A which is taken on line 2A-2A of Fig. 2, and in end elevation in Fig. 3. A rocker arm 46 is rotatably mounted at one end to a pillow block 46A stationarily mounted to the framework 10. A roller 41 is mounted to the opposite end of arm 46 to rotate on a vertical axis and to ride on the cammed surface of the cylindrical cam 40. Compression roller 34 is mounted on the rocker arm 35 to rotate on a vertical axis and to press against the sides of the cartons as described. The rocker arms 35 and 46 are joined to each other in pivotal relationship at a point spaced from their ends with a pivot pin 48. The pivot pin is spring loaded with the spring 36 to urge roller 34 outwardly from conveyor I2. Rocker arm 46 is provided with an upright ear 463 against which the end of rocker arm 35 abuts. A pin 49 is slidably journalled through the car 463 and the ,abutting end of arm 35 and is cleated against the arm 35. A helical spring 49A is held under compression on the opposite end of pin 49 urging the end of rocker arm 35 against the ear 46B.

The operation of the cylindrical cams and the conveyor I2 is synchronized so that the compression rollers 34, 34A are normally urged inwardly to compress the sides of a carton, as for example, carton 50 in Fig. 3, between the centrally disposed rows of cans 5|. Under normal circumstances, when the inward travel of rollers 34, 34A is not impeded by other than the carton sides, the rocker arms 36, 46 pivot together about the pivotal axis of arm 46. If, however, the machine should become jammed or synchronization between cams 40, 40A and conveyor l2 should be disturbed so that rollers 34, 34A are urged inwardly against the carton sides in line wtih a can row instead of between can rows, arms 35A and 46 will pivot with respect to each other about the pin 48. Spring 49A will absorb the difierence in rotary movement under such circumstances. In this manner the apparatus will not be damaged nor will the contents of the misaligned carton.

The constriction of the carton sides produced by normal operation of the compression rollers between adjoining centrally disposed rows of cans, springs the side flaps 50A, 56B of carton 50 (Fig. 3) upwardly from the top of the carton. The end flaps 5IA, 5IB remain undisturbed.

A pair of plows 54, 54A are mounted above and to the sides of conveyor l2 with the ends of the plows projecting inwardly above the upper edges of cartons traveling on the conveyor to engage the sprung flaps of the cartons. Movement of a carton on the conveyor l2 with relation to the plows 54, 54A spreads the side flaps until they are bent outwardly and downwardly to engage against and be held in this position by the sides 56A, 56B of a channel member 56 in which the chains 12A, I2B travel (Fig. 4).

Contact switches 58, 58A are mounted on the plows 54, 54A, respectively, and a third contact switch 59 is mounted beneath the conveyor extending upwardly from channel 56. Switch 59 is actuated by the weight of cartons passing along the conveyor. The three switches 58, 58A,v 59 are connected in a circuit including the prime mover I 5 to stop the machine unless both or neither of the plow switches 58, 58A areengaged. Thus, if for any reason only one of the side flaps of any carton is opened and in engagement with one of the plows, the machine will automatically stop itself to permit remedial measures to be taken. If both side flaps, however, are properly sprung to engage the plows, the operation of the machine will be continuous. I

Having successfully opened the side flaps of the carton, it next becomes necessary, prior to removal of the cans from the carton, to open the end flaps. Heretofore this has been accomplished in apparatus designed for other purposes by changing the direction of travel of the carton or by rotating the carton through a 90 angle so that the end flaps are located adjacent the sides of the conveyor with the side flaps transverse to the conveyor. The present apparatus, on the other hand, provides means for opening the end flaps without disturbing the direction of travel or the orientation of the carton with re-v spect to the single conveyor. I

The 'end flap opening mechanism is shown in plan view in Fig. 2, sectional elevation in Fig. 1 and in transverse section in Fig. 4. Details of the operation of this device showing the relationship of the timing means to the fiap opening means are shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and Figs. 7 and 8, respectively.

Arms 62, 63 are suspended across and above conveyor l2 and are rotatably mounted at each end to chain conveyors 64, 66. Chain 66 is'carried over sprockets 61, B8 journalled inwardly from the framework it, and chain 64 is carried over a like pair of sprockets journalled inwardly from the opposite side of the framework. One sprocket of each'pair is aligned coaxially with a sprocket of the other pair so that the chains 64, 66 travel in identical loops carrying arms 62, 63 above the conveyor with one arm moving in the same direction as the conveyor while the other arm is moving in the opposite direction above the first arm. One sprocket of each pair is driven from a drive shaft 16, the other sprocket of each pair serving as an idler. Drive shaft 10 carries a pair of spaced sprockets 14, M which are connected to drive the drive sprocket of each of the abovementioned pairs of sprockets. This arrangement is illustrated in the transverse sectional elevation of Fig. 4. Sprocket 61 carries a coaxial spur gear 18 and a second spur gear 15 is rotatably mounted in engagement with the spur gear 18. A sprocket 76 is mounted coaxially to the spur gear 15 and a chain 11 is carried over this sprocket and sprocket 14 on drive shaft 10. The spur gears I5, 18 are the same size and serve merely as reversing gears. The same type of arrangement is used to drive one of the sprockets carrying chain 64 from sprocket 9i mounted on drive shaft 70.

Each of the transverse arms 62, 63 carries a spaced pair of projecting fingers 82, 82A and 83, 83A, respectively, and a dog 84, 85, respectively. The several fingers project outwardly from the arms to lie in the part of a carton on conveyor l2 and are aligned to pass between the can rows when extending into the carton. The dog 84 projects outwardly from arm 62 and the dog 85 projects inwardly from arm 63, the two dogs serving to determine the angular orientation of the fingers as hereinafter described. A stationary cam 88 is mounted. in the path of assume savers: dog. 85 as to causerotat'ion ofthe arm iii; and hence, of the projectingfingers whenthe dog strikes the leading slanting edge 88A of the cam, the rotation. being counter to the direction of travel of'the finger. A second stationary cam 89 is mounted in the path ofdog 91; causing rotation of arm 63' when the dog strikes the cam'as will be more particularly described with relation toFigs. '5-8.

Drive shaft 19 not only drives-the arms 62', '63 through suitable sprocket and spur gear arrangements' as described but also controls-the sequence of intermittent motion of the arms. A- sleeve orhub=l3 is rotatably mounted on the shaft The hubcarriesa sprocket 1| and a friction or clutch plate 90; A- second clutch plate 92' is mounted to or formed integrally with sprocket 9| previously described as forming a companion sprocket with sprocket 14'. The hub 13 is spring loaded by means of a coil spring 93- mounted around shaft 10- and confined between an" annular shoulder 19A and the hub. The spring 93* urges the clutch plates 99, 92 together so that undernormal load conditions rotary motion is transmitted from sprocket ll through the clutch to sprocket 9| and the shaft 10 to which the sprocket 9| is rigidly affixed. Sprocket l is driven by a chain 12 carried overa sprocket MC (Fig. 2) on the sprocket shaft MA.

Sprocket 91 serves the double function ofdri'ving'chain' 64 and as a timing gear to synchronize the movement of arms 62, 63 with the movement ofcartons' on'conveyor i2; A plurality of studs 9%, 94A, etc:, project axially from the sprocket 9 I adjacent its periphery and on the side opposite the clutch plate 92. A spring loaded pivotal latch 95 is normally disposed in the path of the studs. As described above, power transmission to the shaft lll'is through the sprocket Tl', clutch plates 99, 92' and sprocket 9|. When one ofthe studs 94, 94A abuts against the latch 95, the sprocket 9| is stopped, stopping the drive shaft 10. Under this condition rotation of sprocket Tl is dissipated by slippage between the clutch plates. When the drive shaft 10 does not rotate, the arms '62, 63 remain stationary. f Latch 95 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to a pillow block 95A projecting inwardly from side |'|lB of the framework (Figs. 2 and. 4). A helical spring 953 is mounted on onev end. of the latch pivot pin, one end of the springbeing anchored to the pin and. the other end of the spring being anchored to the latch. Tension of the spring. is such as to urge theend 99' (Figs. Gang-1.8) of the latch into the path of the studs 94, etc. A stop I09 is rigidly mounted above the opposite end of the latch to limit latch rotation in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 6 and 8, i. e., to limit therotation of end 99. of the. latch toward the axis of sprocket 9|.

A floating sprocket 96 is rotatably mounted on the drive shaft T9 adjacent sprocket 9| and onthe side opposite. the clutch plate 92. The floating sprocket isdriven by a chain 97 carried over a sprocket MD on the sprocket shaft MA. The floating sprocket 96 is provided. with a. plurality of studs. 98, 98A extending axially toward thesprocket 9| and located adjacent the periphery of the sprocket on asomewhat shorter radius than the studs 94 on the sprocket 9|. The lower portion 99A of the leading edge 99' of'latchQ 9 5 is tapered in the direction of rotation of the sprockets. The tapered portion of the latch lies in the path of the studs 98, 98A, etc';, when the latch is in its rest position determinedby the of. travel of arm 62'.

step 109/ When the sprocket 91 rotates t'o a: point where one of the studs 94, etc., strikes the blunt edge of the latch, rotation of the sprocket is stopped. Sprocket 9| remains motionless until one of the studs 98'etc. on sprocket 96" strikes thetapered-lower portion 99A ofthe leading edge 99" of the latch. When this happens the latch isdeflected by continuing rotation of sprocket 93 to the point where the abutting stud 94 etc. bears against the tapered edge 99A to further deflect the latch. Sprocket 9| will again be free to rotate carrying stud 94 past the deflected latch. When the stud'passes the latch, the-latter returns toits rest position and will again stop the rotation of the sprocket 9| when a succeeding one of the studs 94, etc'., strikes the latch.

The operation of the end flap opening mechanism is as follows and is shown in two stages of its operation in Figs: 5 and 6 and Figs. '7 and8, respectively. The leading end fiap |02A is opened first with the fingers 83', 93A pivoted forwardly as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, while the chains 64; 6-6 are being driven faster than carton I02 on conveyor I2. In this manner, the fingers 83; 83A engage under and lift the end flap" |02A of thecarton; say carton I92' (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) pivoting it upwardly and forwardly so that by the time the fingers 83', 853A have finished theirforward motion and commence to travel on the radius of sprocket 61, the end flap HJZA is bent outwardly from the leading end of the carton;

This position of the mechanism is shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the latter figure showing the timing sprocket 9| and the relationship of the studs 94, 94A thereon with respect to the latch 95. It will be seen from Fig. 5 thatthe. finger 83A has carried the flap |92A from the position shown in Fig. 1 through an arc of approximately 180 so that it projectsforwardly from the moving carton. As the finger 83A is carried upwardly on the radius of sprocket 61, the flap ||l2A springs upwardly engaging under belt |08 hereinafter described. The chain continues to travel; carrying. the fingers 83', 83A around sprocket ET, at'the same time. the fingers 82, 82A are c'ircumscribing, the sprocket '68.

As the finger 82A (Fig. '5) reverses its direction around the sprocket 68, i. e., commences to travel in the direction of the cartonsv onconveyor l2, the dog 84, projecting outwardly from thee-rm 62 (Fig. 4). strikes the upper flat surface of the stationary cam 89, pivoting the fingers 82., 92A so that they lie substantially in the plane While in this position, the two. fingers are carried across the top of'the. car.- ton I92 until they reach the: inclined end face 39A of cam 85.. By the time the fingers have reached the end of the cam 89. they have overtaken passed a portion of the carton, including the trailing end fiap 12B. As the. dog 34 (Fig. 4) travels down theinclined face 89A of the cam, as shown in Fig. 7, pin 94 on timing sprocket 9| strikes the latch 95 (Fig. 8), stopping the motion of thearms 82, 63 and hence, of the fingers 82, 82A so that the-end flap I023 (Fig. 7.). catches on the fingers 82, 82A and swings-through an arc of approximately as the carton I02 is carried on conveyor l2 beneath the fingers 9'2 82A. When the flap |92B has been partially elevated by the fingers 82, 82A, the stud. 98A .projecting from the floating, sprocket 96 (Fig. 4) strikes the lower inclined edge 99A to pass beheath the latch; Motion of the chains 64; 66 is again instituted through clutch 81 carrying the'fingers 82, 82A partway around the sprocket 6'! to permit the carton I02 to pass beneath the fingers. Throughout this sequence of operations, the trailing end flap M23 is slowly swinging in an arc of 180 to extend outwardly from the trailing end of the carton.

As the arm 62 travels over the sprocket 61, the stud MA on the timing sprocket 9| hits the latch 05, stopping the mechanism long enough to permit another carton to travel into the approximate position of the carton I02 in Fig. 1. Timed with the arrival of a succeeding carton, stud 98A on the floating sprocket 96 lifts latch 05, whereby sprocket 9| is again rotated through clutch 81 (Fig. 4), stud 04A passing under the latch 95. The cycle is thus complete and fingers 83, 83A are ready to engage under the leading end flap of a succeeding carton.

With the side flaps and end flaps of the carton open, the cans are removed from the carton. To accomplish this, a magnet I06, which may be either a permanent magnet or an electromagnet, is stationarily mounted above the end of conveyor I2 with one end of the magnet projecting a short distance over the end of the conveyor. A belt I08 is mounted around rollers I09, H0, 9130., and extends across the under face of magnet I06. An idler roller H2 is spring loaded by an anchored spring I I8 to maintain a uniform tension on belt I08. The belt is driven by the rubber surfaced compression rolls 20C and I I4 between which it is threaded. In this manner, belt I08 travels continuously across the lower face of magnet I03. A belt conveyor H6 is extended beneath an end of the magnet opposite the conveyor I2 and is driven by a chain III carried over a sprocket ME on shaft MA and a sprocket (not shown) on pulley shaft USA of the conveyor H6. A conveyor I20 is mounted beneath conveyors I2 and IIS spanning the gap between the adjacent ends of the upper, conveyors. A chain IZI carried over a sprocket MP on shaft MA and a sprocket (not shown) on pulley shaft I 20A of conveyor I 20 drives the conveyor I 20.

As an opened carton approaches the end of conveyor I2, the magnet I06 suspends cans H9 independently of the carton as succceeding rows of the cartoned cans come within the magnetic field. The cans are held against belt I08 and are carried across the under face of the magnet by the belt. As the belt carries the rows of cans across the face of the magnet toward the opposite edge, they are forced between conveyor H6 and belt I08 and are carried by the conveyor out of the magnetic field. The conveyor 'IIB discharges the cans at the lefthand end of the framework (as viewed in Fig. 1) and they are conveniently caused to fall from an upright position to a horizontal position into a slide or conveyor, not shown. The cartons discharged from the end of conveyor I2, and as the cans are retained onbelt I08 by magnet I00, drop onto the conveyor I20. .The cartons disposed on conveyor I20 may be discharged into a chute or another conveyor (not shown) and carried from there to any place in the plant for reloading with filled cans.

Although the invention has been described with relation to the removal of empty cans from an unsealed carton, it is not so limited and description of this particular type of operation was selected as representing a major industrial problem. The same apparatus can be used with equal success for removing filled cans or any type of metal container, either empty or full, from car- 10 tons in which the side and. end flaps are free to fold away from the carton. If the cartons are received in a sealed condition, it is only necessary to break the seal, as with a knife, prior to feeding the cartons into the described apparatus.

Many modifications in the mechanical details of the apparatus of the invention will be apparent to any skilled engineer with particular reference to distribution of motive power, adjustment of various parts to accommodate cartons of different shapes and sizes, etc. Any modification in the apparatus wherein the same results are accomplished in substantially an equivalent manner, is included within the scope of the foregoing description and the following claims. An extensive discussion of the many modifications which could obviously be incorporated in the apparatus with respect to motivation; gearing, adjusting features, and the like, would serve no useful purpose.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for unloading containers from cartons having side flaps and end flaps comprising a conveyor, electrical motor means for operating said conveyor, means for spacing the the cartons on the conveyor, means operable to successively fold the side flaps of each of the cartons outwardly from the sides of the carton, electrical contact means arranged serially with respect to said last named means for deenergizing said electrical motor means unless both side flaps of each carton are opened and engaging the electrical contact means, separate means for folding the end flaps of each cartoifoutwardly from the carton, and means for suspending the cans independent of the carton and depositing them outside the carton, all of said means being arranged to operate in sequence on the separate cartons as they are carried by said conveyor.

2. Apparatus for removing metallic containers from cartons having side and end cover flaps comprising a first conveyor for the cartons, movable means' disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor operably responsibe to movement of the conveyor to depress the opposite sides of a carton on the conveyor to spring said side flaps upwardly, a pair of plows stationarily mounted above said conveyor serially with respect tosaid movable means to engage under said side flaps and fold them outwardly from the carton as the carton passes the plows, a second conveyor mounted above the first conveyor serially with respect to the plows, spaced fingers mounted to the second conveyor to alternately depend in the path of a carton travelling on the first conveyor, means for pivoting said fingers as they'are moved by the second conveyor to cause a finger to engage under the flap on the leading end of the carton and fold it forwardly with respect to the carton, and to cause a different finger to se-. quentially engage under and fold the flap on the trailing end of the carton backwardly with respect to the carton, and magnetic means mounted adjacent the end of the first conveyor to suspend the containers independent of the opened cartons.

3. Apparatus for removing metallic containers from cartons having side and end cover flaps comprising a first conveyor for the cartons, movable means disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor operably responsive to movement of the conveyor to depress the opposite sides of a carton on the conveyor to springsaid side flaps upwardly, a pair of plows stationarily mounted above said conveyor serially with respect to said movable means to engage under said side fiaps and fold them outwardly :from the 'carton as the carton passes the plows, a second conveyor mounted above the first conveyor serially with respect to 'the plows, spaced fingers mounted to the second conveyor to alternately depend in-the path'of a carton travelling on the first conveyor, means for pivoting said fingers as-they aremoved by the second conveyor tocause a finger to engage under the flap on the leading end of the carton and fold'it forwardly with respect to-the carton, and tocause-a different finger-to sequentially engage under and fold the fiap on the trailing endof the carton backwardly with respect to the'carton, a magnet mounted adjacent andabove the dischargeend of the first conveyor andextending beyond the end of the conveyor, and a third conveyor travelling across the lower face of the magnet.

'4. Apparatus forremoving metallic containers from cartons having side and end cover flaps comprising a first conveyor for the cartons, movable means disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor operably responsive tornovement of the conveyor to depress the opposite sides of a carton on the conveyor to spring said side flaps upwardly, a pair of plows stationarily mounted above said'conveyor serially with respect to said movable means to engage under said side flaps and'fold them outwardly from the carton as the carton passes the plows, a second conveyor mounted above the first conveyor serially with respect to the plows,.spaced fingers mounted to the second conveyor to alternately depend inthe path of a carton travelling on the first conveyor,

, means for automatically starting and stopping the second conveyor said means being synchronized with the carton spacing on said first conveyor, means for pivoting said fingers as they are moved by the second conveyor to cause "a finger to engage under the flap on the leading end of the carton and .fold it forwardly with respect to the carton, and to cause a different finger to sequentially engage under and'fold'the fiap on the trailing end of the carton 'backwardly with respect to the carton, a magnet mounted adjacent and above the 'discharge end of the first conveyor and extending beyondthe end "of thefconveyor, and a .third conveyor travelling across the lower face or the magnet. 7

5. Apparatus for removing metallic'containers from "cartons having side and end cover flaps comprising 'a first conveyor for the cartons, means for equally spacing succeeding cartons on the conveyor, movable means disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor, and operable responsive to movement of the conveyor 'to'depress the opposite sides of a carton on 'the conveyor to spring said side flaps upwardly, a pair "of plows stationarily mounted above saidconveyor serially with respect to said movable means to engage under said side flaps and fold'them outwardly o from the carton asthe'cartcn passes the plows, a secondconveyor mounted above the first conveyor serially with respect to the plows, spaced fingers mounted tothe second conveyorto alternately depend in the path of a carton travelling on the first conveyor, means for automatically starting and stoppingthe second conveyor synchronized with the carton spacing on said first conveyor, means-for pivoting said fingers as they are moved by-the second conveyor to cause a first finger to engage under the flap onthe leading end of the carton and fold it forwardly with respectto thecarton, and to cause a diiTerent finger 12 to'sequentially engage under .and fold the 'fiap on thetrailing end of the carton backwardly with respect to thecarton, a magnet mounted adjacent and above the discharge end of the first conveyor and extending beyond the end of the conveyor,-a third conveyor travelling across the lower face of the magnet.

6. Apparatus for removing metallic containers from cartons having side and end cover flaps comprising a first conveyor for the cartons, means for equally spacing succeeding cartonson the conveyor, separate movable means disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor operably responsive :to movement of the conveyor to depress theopposite sides of avcarton on the conveyor to spring said side flaps upwardly, a pair of [plows stationarily mounted above said conveyor serially with respect to said movable means'to engage under said side flaps and .fold them outwardly from the carton as the carton passes the plows,- switch means connected to .stop said first-conveyor when onlyone of said plows is in contact with a side 'fiap, -a second conveyor mounted above the first conveyor serially with respect to the plows, spaced fingers mounted to the second conveyor to alternately depend in the path of a carton travelling on the first conveyor, means for autom'aticallystarting and stopping the second conveyor synchronized with the carton spacing on said first conveyor, means for pivoting said fingers as theyare moved by the second conveyor to cause a finger to engageunder the flap on .the leading end of the carton and fold it forwardly with respect to the cartomand to cause a different finger to sequentially engage under and fold the flap on the trailing end of the carton backwardly with respect to the carton, a magnet mounted adjacent and above the discharge end of the first conveyor and extending beyond the end of the conveyor, and athird conveyor travelling across the lower face of the magnet.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein each of said separatemovable means operable to depress the sides of a carton in the first conveyor comprises a first roller mountedto rotate about a vertical axis on a first loaded pivot arm, asecond pivot arm pivotally'mounted'to'the first arm, a second roller mounted to rotate about a vertical axis on said second pivot'arm, 'a cylindrical cam mounted on a horizontal rotatable shaft so that said second roller rides on the cammed surface, means for rotating'said shaft, and releasable means for preventing relative rotation of said first and second pivot arms.

8. Apparatus according to claim '7 wherein, the cylindrical cams for each of the separate movable means are mounted on the, same shaft and are of identical shape whereby the movement of each of said'first rollers is synchronized.

9. Apparatus according toclaim 6 wherein said second conveyor comprises a pair of synchronously driven chain conveyors spaced above and adjacent the opposite sides of said second conveyor, a pair of travelling arms connected at opposite ends to the pair of conveyors and spaced from each other along the pair of' conveyors, said spacedfingers being mounted to said travelling arms.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said travelling arms are rotatably connected to said pair of conveyors and said means for pivoting said fingers comprises a pair of stationary cams mounted adjacent one of said pair'of conveyors, and a separate clogmounted to each travelling arm and projecting therefrom to "en- 13 gage one of said cams to rotate the respective travelling arm as the conveyor carries the clog against the cam.

11. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the second conveyor is driven from a single drive shaft, and the means for automatically stopping said second conveyor comprises a first sprocket mounted on a hub rotatable on said drive shaft, a chain connecting said first sprocket to be rotated responsive to movementvof the first conveyor, a first clutch plate formed on an end of said hub, a second sprocket rigidly mounted on said shaft, a second clutch plate mounted on said second sprocket, spring means surging said first and second clutch plates together so that rotation of said first sprocket is transmitted through said clutch plates and second sprocket to said shaft, a plurality of studs mounted to and projecting axially from said second sprocket, a third sprocket rotatably mounted on said shaft, a chain connecting said third sprocket to be rotated, responsive to movement of said first conveyor, independently of said first sprocket and said shaft, a plurality of studs mounted to and projecting axially from said third sprocket, a spring loaded stop mounted to rest in the path of the studs on the second and third sprockets so that rotation of the second sprocket is stopped when one of its studs strikes the latch, and the latch is deflected to permit passage of said one of said studs when a stud on the third sprocket strikes the latch.

12. In apparatus for opening a carton containing a series of rows of containers and having side fiaps folded inwardly from its sides, the combination comprising a conveyor for the carton, movable means disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor outwardly of the path of cartons traveling on the conveyor, means operable intermittently and responsive to movement of the conveyor to simultaneously displace the movable means inwardly to exert a squeezing force on the sides of the carton below said side flaps and between adjoining rows of containers whereby the side flaps are partially opened, and a pair of plows mounted above and to the sides of the conveyor serially with respect said movable means to engage under each of the partially opened side flaps as the carton travels on the conveyor and to bend the side flaps outwardly of the carton under the influence of the motion of the carton.

13. In apparatus for opening a carton having side flaps folded inwardly from its sides, the combination comprising a conveyor for the carton, movable means disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor and operable simultaneously to exert a squeezing force on the sides of the carton below said side flaps whereby the side flaps are partially opened, a pair of plows mounted above and to the sides of the conveyor serially with respect said movable means, to engage under each of the partially opened side fiaps as the carton travels on the conveyor and to bend the side fiaps outwardly of the carton under the influence of the motion of the carton, and a separate contact switch mounted on each of the plows and on the conveyor and connected to stop the conveyor when at least one and less than all of the switches are contacted.

14. In apparatus for opening a carton having and to the side of the conveyor serially with respect said movable means to engage under each of the partially opened side flaps as the carton travels on the conveyor and to bend the side fiaps outwardly from the carton imder the influence of the motion of the carton, and means for automatically releasing the movable means to prevent said squeezing force responsive to abnormal resistance to said squeezing force.

15. In apparatus for opening the end flaps-of a carton, the combination comprising a conveyor for the carton, a second conveyor disposed above a portion of the first conveyor and travelling oppositely to the first conveyor so that the adjacent surfaces travel in the same direction, spaced fingers mounted to said second conveyor and projecting into the path of a carton travelling on said first conveyor, means for intermittently driving the second conveyor to cause a finger projecting therefrom to engage under the leading end fiap and fold it forwardly away from the carton, means for stopping the second conveyor to cause a different one of said fingers to catch under the trailing end flap and fold it backwardly as the carton travels under said different one of said fingers.

16. In apparatus for opening the end flaps of a carton, the combination comprising a conveyor for the carton, a second conveyor disposed above a portion of the first conveyor and travelling oppositely to the first conveyor so that the adjacent surfaces travel in the same direction, a pair of transverse arms mounted to said second conveyor and spaced from each other, separate fingers mounted to said pair of arms and projecting into the path of a carton travelling on said first conveyor, means for intermittently driving the second conveyor to cause a finger projecting therefrom to engage under the leading end flap of the carton, and fold it forwardly away from the carton, means for stopping the second conveyor to cause a different one of said fingers to catch under the trailing end flap of the carton, and fold it backwardly as the carton travels under said different one of said fingers.

17. In apparatus for opening the end fiaps of a carton, the combination comprising a first conveyor for the carton, a second conveyor disposed above a portion of the first conveyor and travelling oppositely to the first conveyor so that the adjacent surfaces travel in the same direction, a

pair of transverse arms mounted to said secondconveyor to rotate in a horizontal axis, separate fingers mounted to each of said arms, means for intermittently driving the second conveyor to cause a finger projecting therefrom to engage under the leading end flap and fold it forwardly away from the carton, means for stopping the second conveyor to cause a, different one of said fingers to catch under the trailing end flap and fold it backwardly as the carton travels under said different one of said fingers, and means for rotating said arms at given points in the travel of said second conveyor to pivot said fingers into a position to engage said flaps.

18. In apparatus for opening the end flaps of a carton, the combination comprising a first conveyor for the carton, a second conveyor disposed above a portion of the first conveyor and travelling oppositely to the first conveyor so that the adjacent surfaces travel in the same direction, a pair of arms rotatably mounted to said second conveyor transversely to said first conveyor, a pair of spaced fingers mounted to each of said arms, means for intermittently driving the sec- 1'5 ondrconveyor to causea finger projecting therefrom to engage under the leading end flap and fold it forwardly away from the carton, means for stopping the second conveyor to cause a different one of said fingers to catch under the trailing end flap and fold it backwardly as the carton travels under said different one of said fingers, the means for driving and stopping the second conveyor being synchronized with the first conveyor, and means for rotating said arms at given points in the travel of said second conveyor to separately pivot-the pairs of fingers.

19. Apparatus for unloading metal containers from cartons comprising magnetic means having an underface, an upper conveyor travelling across said underface of said magnetic means, a lower delivery conveyor for feeding the cartons having its discharge end projecting a distance under said magnetic means, said magnetic means being spaced above said discharge end of said delivery conveyor a distance sufficient to lift the containers off the bottom of the cartons and cause suspension of the containers Within the cartons to insure positive removal of the containers, and a discharge conveyor for receiving containers from said upper conveyor and having its receiving end projectinga distance under said magnetic means and being spaced from the discharge end of the delivery conveyor a distance sufficient to enable downward removal therebetween of the cartons, said magnetic means being spaced above the receiving end of said discharge conveyor a distance substantially equal to the height of the container to cause forced delivery of the containers into the space between the magnetic means and the discharge conveyor to maintain proper alignment of the containers while being removed from the magnetic means.

20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19 and including means for opening cartons, having side flaps and end flaps, while on said delivery conveyor, said means having'first means operable to-successively fold the side flaps of each of the cartonsroutwardlyfrom the'sides of the carton,

end flaps of each of the cartons outwardly from the carton.

21. In apparatus for opening a carton having side flaps folded inwardly from its sides, the combination comprising a conveyor for the carton, a'first pair of rollers mounted on opposite sides of the conveyor, each roller being mounted to rotate about avertical axis on a first pivot arm, a, second pivot arm pivotally mounted to each of the first arms and including a projection preventing relative rotation of "the respective one of said first arms in one direction, spring meansconnected to impede relative rotation of the first arms in the opposite direction, a second roller mounted to each of the second arms, a pair of cams rotatable responsive to movement ,of the.

conveyor and respectively contacting the second rollers so that rotation of the cams periodically urges the first rollers inwardly with respect to the conveyor .to exert a squeezing force on the sides of the carton below 'said side flaps whereby the 1 side flaps are partially open, and stationary means spaced from the first rollers to engage under each of the partially opened side flaps as the carton travels on the conveyor and to bend the side flaps outwardly of the carton under the influence of the motion of the carton.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

